Part 1: Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Concentrate first impressions and giveaway
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 10:05AM When Liz of Estee Lauder asked me if I wanted to try the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Concentrate (P4,800), I was like, "Fug. Not another anti-aging product!" in my head. I am up to my ears with anti-aging products - and I'm only 23! I am extremely reluctant of using one for four weeks tbqh, but since I like Liz, I thought I'd give it a chance.
So that's the challenge: use the ANR serum for four weeks and write about it once a week during that period. I just got to try it last night because I broke out last week plus I was sick, so I don't have much in the way of a review just yet. I will however share my first impressions for now.
Not an anti-aging product LOLZ
Okay. First off, the ANR serum is technically not an anti-aging product (read the description). I just assumed it was, on first glance, which is very careless of me but it is admittedly a common misconception. Estee Lauder is associated with mature women after all!
ANR is designed to repair and restore the skin after it is damaged - say from sun exposure, acne scarring, perhaps an occasional light wrinkle. It is also supposed to be an anti-irritant, something to calm down redness and inflammation. Lastly, it is designed to improve the skin's moisture barrier. It doesn't moisturize much, per se, but it helps boosts the effects of the moisturizer you have on top.
My skin condition before using the ANR
The thing I hate about getting sick is how crappy my skin looks like afterwards. It becomes quite dry, uneven-looking, rough, and just overall dull. I came from an event yesterday and people were saying, "Liz your skin looks good!" but the truth is, I piled on luminizing makeup to get that effect (Lancome Teint Miracle + Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Mineral Makeup SPF15 + Guerlain Meteorites = skin that eats light). Otherwise I look so drawn and slightly gray around the gills.
So last night, I thought of using the ANR with absolutely no expectations. Okay that's a lie. I expected something: a pimple! I have tried a couple of Estee Lauder moisturizers before, and they have given me pimples. Will ANR make me break out too?
Tag team: the ANR Concentrate with the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye gel
What the fuss is about
I woke up today with pretty nice skin. That's what's up! The dullness has gone away. My skin feels smooth. Dare I say it has a glow? I just used one drop of the ANR + my fave Clinique Moisture Surge last night. The ANR wasn't oily at all (most serums tend to be) and sunk in quickly. It was certainly not enough to moisturize my skin, but I guess it wasn't made for that.
No makeup. Yes, blemishes are my eternal problem.
I have a new pimple on the side of my nose. Not sure if ANR is the direct cause as I got bumps on the area before I used the product.
Overall, so far so good! I am quite happy with my first use of the ANR, and I really hope that it can help me more in the long run. It has a rating of 4.1 /5 at Makeupalley (320 reviews) which is really promising. People are saying that it's really great for acne scarring! I totally need that. I'll let you know how it goes.
Contest! Contest!
In the meantime, you can get a chance to win your own bottle of the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Concentrate worth P4,800. Just answer this question!
What is your worst skin problem? What steps have you taken to repair it?
And that's it. :) I genuinely want to know, from one one problematic-skinned fellow to another. Just leave your answer below by February 13 and we will pick the best one. Kindly note that this contest is open only to Philippine residents; I will ship the prize to the winner.
Cool? Hoping to hear from you!
PS Do follow Estee Lauder Philippines on Facebook to catch their updates. They have a new app too, you should check it out.
Reader Comments (53)
I remember mid last year I was panicking because of pimples sprouting all over my face one by one! It started when I began working full time so most my friends would blame it to stress and lack of sleep. In a span of 6 weeks I tried different beauty products but the pimples just keep on appearing in my cheecks, nose, forehead and even at my back! I began to have pimple marks too (which to this day depresses me). It was then that I consulted a dermatologist and she gave me cetaphil (bar not the cleanse)r and told me to apply tretinoin twice a day. She told me to skip the moisturizer and toner as these may be influencing the pimples. While using it I noticed having more and not less pimples, how's that! But my derma told me that it's normal because tretinoin encourages dirt and impurities out of the skin so it's normal to have pimples. After 2-3 months of following that regimen, I am now pimple-free and happy! And I think the facial sauna machine given by my oh-so supportive boyfriend helped too :)
Extreme outbreak of dark spots due to too much sun exposure as a result Of too much swimming during summer time. No creams or any OTC products can remove it. So had to go to derma to have it removed. Painless and results where fabulous. completely dark spots free.
I had problems with acne breakouts few months ago and my friend told me to use exfoilant with tretinoin to get rid of the stubborn acne, and after a week the breakouts are all gone! I still had problems with the acne scars from the breakouts though but im now using Anew's intensive corrective serum along with the Anew White kit that I purchased few weeks ago. Few weeks after using the kit the scars have lessened and im now having a lighter and more healthy skin. :)
What is your worst skin problem? What steps have you taken to fix it?
I have not had a lot of skin problems as I was growin up, not untli December last year. I've tried a couple of products from skincare to cosmetics, so it's become so hard for me to identify what caused the zits that came out of the sides of my face and a bit on my hairline. Since I have never had pimples this much, I would panic and worry! To be honest until now they're still here but they are becoming lesser and smaller. See, I feel like it's been taking me forever to cure them!
I asked help from my Korean friend, who I trust very well with skin care because Koreans have great skin we all envy hehe. She told me to use The Face Shop's Clean Face Acne skin cleanser and their Arsainte Toner and Moisturizer. I am amazed because I believe that the cleanser works! The time I started using it, the zits I have on one side of my face were i think at their worst- big, very red and itchy! This cleanser made it smaller and less itchy. The toner and moisturizer also works fine!
I believe that this experience Im having also teaches me a lesson- never be lazy on skin care! I might have tried products recently and they might be the cause of the zits, but i admit that there were a lot of nights that I became too lazy to wash my face and remove my make up. Lesson learned! :)
My maternal family has always had a history of Psoriasis, Eczema and other skin problems. Of course, I just had to carry the gene! I'm lucky though; while my brothers had Psoriasis on the knees and feet and my mother had them on the elbows, mine was on the scalp (called Seborrhoeic dermatitis, easily passable as dandruff).
What is it? According to Wikipedia: Seborrhoeic dermatitis is an inflammatory skin disorder affecting the scalp, face, and torso. Typically, seborrheic dermatitis presents with scaly, flaky, itchy, and red skin. May I emphasize that this CANNOT be cured if it's genetically caused. It could be managed, but every once in a while it flares up, causing ugly red (itchy and painful) patches on the affected parts.
While it's a tad more manageable than Psoriasis, that doesn't mean I didn't have my fair share of woes; the flaking extended beyond my hairline! I know, it sounds freaky when you imagine it affecting the uppermost parts of my forehead, or the back of my ears. Sometimes, it even hits the skin under my eyebrows! It had been one of my insecurities when I was in high school, so I didn't really feel motivated to look pretty at all during my teen years (not to mention every teen makes a big deal out of everything that's wrong with you). It's been a long time since then and I still have them, although I can manage them better now. Here's what I did:
> When I was in highschool, I joined a varsity team that always played under the sun. Later on did I realize how important sun exposure is in helping delay the shedding of skin. Upon knowing this, I made sure that when I applied sunblock, I cover everything EXCEPT the affected parts. I was told that the UV light actually helps when it comes to my skin condition. It might be more time-consuming to be particular with how I put on sunblock, but in the long run it's beneficial for me.
> Good hygiene is key to controlling this. I shampoo everyday, but I make sure to condition my hair afterwards to prevent my hair from drying up. I need to make sure I rinse everything thoroughly though; build-up of residue can easily aggravate the flaking. Of course, I make sure not to overwash my hair, as it may dry up my scalp further.
> When the flaking starts getting worse, I get a hair trim. It may seem shallow but shorter hair actually allows more sun and air to reach the affected areas, both of which are highly beneficial to stopping the hypershedding. I only leave this option for when it gets bad though, as short hair rarely suited me.
> Topical medications (steroids) and treatment shampoos are oftentimes used. When it flares up, I immediate start the treatment regimen to get it under control. Strict application of medication is necessary as the medication's effectiveness would decrease if used improperly.
> Big no-no: peeling the flakes! I've been guilty of doing this because the scaly skin is such a pet-peeve, but it actually leads to more scaling so I had to control myself!
> I don't know if this has helped at all, but I have never made any attempts to cover the patches too much with foundations or concealers. I personally believe that covering them would make them flare-up, so I managed without them on my face. While I had a lot to hide, I'm conscious enough not to aggravate it. (Pressure in keeping a fresh, acne-prone face though, as I can't cover it up :/ )
> A critical note: anything that could cause stress to the body could lead to flare-ups! It was a push for me to live a more healthy life. This meant better sleep, better time management, less illnesses and more rest. Maintaining a healthy body was not just an option I could disregard anymore, it was a necessity if I wanted to avoid looking ugly. I started taking vitamins and finishing work faster. I also learned that I needed to handle stressful situations better, as this condition is for life.
And the MOST important thing: never to let the condition control you! I've mentioned how insecure I was in highschool, but I eventually realized that there's more to me than that! So I made sure to keep my face clean and fresh (cleanse-tone-moisturize, everyone?), keep my hair nice, and overall just be confident with how I look and how I carry myself. It makes a load of difference; people will naturally notice your fresh face and bubbly, positive attitude first before they even notice anything that's wrong with your skin! First impressions are important and soon I realized that being dejected about it never really helped me.
Before, I wished that I would just have the same problems as every other girl; acne, oily/dry skin and the like. Now that I've had the upper hand on things, I don't have such thoughts anymore. I just focus on looking my best, keeping a healthy body (or trying to LOL) and and staying positive!
I've had skin asthma since I was just a kid. Doctors always told me and my mom that I would outgrow it... maybe when I was 12 or just a little later than that. Well 12 came and passed and so did 13, 14, 15, etc., and I still had terrible rashes and hypersensitive skin. I learned to manage it and I tried my very best not to scratch too much (it was very itchy). The only cream that worked against my rashes was Elica (a steroidal cream) which unfortunately left white spots where my rashes had been. Now that I'm 22 my skin asthma has subsided but I'm left with a very uneven skin tone and NEW skin problem... while all of my friends were breaking out in their teens, I'm just starting in my 20s! For that, I use the Proactiv system, which is working wonderfully. One thing having skin asthma left me with is a genuine concern for my skin's health... I use sunscreen every single day and I moisturize religiously (did I forget to mention I have very dry skin?). So while my skin problems have plagued me all of my life and still continue to do so, I suppose the bright side of the matter is that I have developed good skin care habits that will get me through the rest of my life.
And that's it! Sorry that came out pretty long, haha. :)
I don't know why there's a double-post as I only clicked on it once! @_@ Sorry, please disregard the other!
My worst skin problem are my rashes. I thank God I am not acne prone however I would get rashes very often. It was very hard for me to choose foundation, blushes and skin care products. My face would get those tiny itchy bumps and would make my skin look so swollen. The steps I took to fix it were:
First, I stick to my skin care routine. Whatever products that works for me now will always be a staple. I do not experiment with different products. Then, I make sure that the makeup tools I used are always clean from sponges down to brushes. I also refrain from touching my face every now and then. I had that bad mannerism before of touching my face like a maniac. That lead to rashes galore. Lastly, I am more vigilant in buying products. I take note of their ingredients and I would always grab those that are hypo allergenic.
Have a nice day Liz.. :D
I have some acne scars during my college days but I remember I used Garnier cream and I was really amazed by the result.
Acne! I've been battling acne for a good 8 years now, it never got any better! It's actually at its worst today (now I have cystic acne all over my cheeks!) :( I've been going to the dermatologist since high school, but I feel like nothing's happening anyway. Like, I'm just throwing out my Mom's hard earned money. I'm going to visit an endocrinologist soon, and hopefully find out what the cause of these little buggers on my face (crossing my fingers that it's hormonal acne though!)
I'm still looking for my "HG" cleanser/toner/serum & acne med, and so far, no luck. :( I'm so envious of your skin now, Ms Liz! I want to try the Obagi Blue peel (?) but I'm Afraidy Aguilar & I'm sure it's mahal!
I saw this product at Ms. Shen's blog and was really intrigued by it. And you're only 2 years older than me pala. XD Hahahaha. (Yeah, I forget that I'm in my 20s na rin XD). Anyway~!
What is your worst skin problem? What steps have you taken to fix it?
My worst skin problem will always be acne and oily skin. This is going to be long since my battle with acne is a long journey. I'll DM you the PW for the album XD. (ayoko mapublic ang aking acne face XD). The album: http://photobucket.com/skinadventure
Highschool: I started to break out when I was in 2nd year highschool. It's not the whole face covered in acne type of breakout but it bothered me so my mom took me to a dermatologist.
Photo: 01
I was given Clindamycin toner and another type of toner (I already forgot :( ). I just religiously used these two and any facial wash and my skin was perfect for two years.
Photo: 02
Then I had a trip to Singapore to end my HS life. I was going to pack my "medicine" then my dad suddenly said na don't pack it because airport security would just take it from me. This was my biggest regret ever. I spent 3 weeks in Singapore. for 1.5-2 weeks, I have this huge pimple on the center of my face which kinda ruined the whole picture picture moments for me.
Photo: 03
When I came back to the Philippines, I started to use my medication again but no avail. Medication is not working anymore.
College: That huge pimple stayed for quite awhile and other pimples started to appear. Please see my ID picture:
Photo: 04
Hahaha. My mom and I were frustrated with what happened so we went to another dermatologist. This time it's Dr. Aivee Aguilar-Teo. She gave me Erythromycin (toner), AHA Lotion, Medicated Acne Soap, sunblock and a lotion for my bacne. That was probably my last visit since the medication toned down my acne. Not completely flawless but I was already happy with the result. I wasn't oily either.
Photo: 05
Then around June-August 2009, my acne was getting worst. The peak was around August. It was partially my fault since I stopped using AHA. Tiniis ko lang since I was really happy with my life and acne didn't really hinder me from being happy. The acne wasn't always worst like in the pic and it could be covered up with BB Cream.
Photo: 06
On February 2010, I got sick, I had this chicken pox like things on my right hand. We went to a derma for a consultation and found out I have herpes zoster (rare chicken pox relapse). Why am I telling you this? Well this dermatologist also said that she could cure my acne. Hahaha.
She gave me Clindramycin (toner), AHA Lotion, Acne Soap, Differin and some ointment that could reduce dark spots and of course, sunblock. I also had religious facial sessions with her. Then my skin cleared up after a month and I wasn't that oily.
Photo: 07
For some odd reason, I didn't want to spend the rest of my life applying these medications so I stopped applying them. This is the time I started self medicating. I tried Tea Tree Oil (Toner and Facial Wash), Garnier Cleanser (the blue one), Carrot Soap and a Soap from Venus and Mars. They worked for awhile but after a few weeks my acne will return with revenge. Sample Pic (Taken using my iPod's Camera):
Photo: 08
This was also the year (2010) that I found out that I have PCOS (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001408/). So yeah, this was the root of all my problems
But I was deluded that my acne wasn't THAT bad because to be honest, I really couldn't see alot of them when I looked in the mirror. My parents had a different view. They saw how out of control my acne was so they took me to a derma (my 4th and last, Dr. Portia of Skin Clinique). Kaibigan ng anak ng kaibigan ng nanay ko. Hahaha. She treated my acne and gave me medication. Oral Medication (I already forgot), Clindramycin for toner, Glycolic Soap, Differin for night and Benzac Ac for day (whole face). I also had facials. When my skin cleared up she told me to stop the Oral Meds and my Benzac AC would only be applied on pimples.
I think it's pretty helpful that you personally know the doctor since I'm able to ask her a lot of questions (even if it's not about acne). It helps that she's super friendly and sweet. She also gave me advice on how to take care of my skin. The most important one was don't stay up late.
I still have a few pimples because I slept late or my period is coming. But other than that, I'm really super happy with my skin. I'm not religiously following the cleanser and toner anymore (Ran out and don't have the time to buy since her Clinic is in QC) but I made sure to always apply Benzac and Differin. I also started to use night moisturizer (Human Heart Nature) so yeah, my skin is really good now.
Photo 09
One thing I learn, if the medication works for you... DON'T STOP. If it stopped working, consult the derma. Hahaha. I also learned that a trip to the OB is not so bad after all (random) Hahaha.
I always had good skin when I was younger until high school but when I reached college, all those pimples were popping out as if they are also excited to go to college. I get annoyed most of the time especially looking the at mirror while my friends doesn't have to worry about their faces. It's sad, it doesn't make me happy at all. I tried a lot of products on my face but it just makes everything worst. Now that I have finished college and working, I still worry about the acne scars I have in my face. I'm up to this battle until now.
What steps have you taken to fix it?
So far these are the steps that I have taken in order to improve my skin and so far, little by little, I have seen some effects.
1. I went to a dermatologist and ask for help. I didn't hesitate anymore because I was desperate to lessen my pimples, acne scars and enlarged pores. My dermatologist gave me some medicine for the face and an oral medicine to take. That was really expensive but I didn't mind anymore. It did made my skin good and my friends are noticing that.
2. I use Johnson's baby wash and Physiogel as a facial wash. No more no less. It's the most gentle thing that has touch my face that's why I like it. No irritations or whatsoever. I had Clinique facial wash before but my dermatologist said to stop it so that I could see the full effect of the products that I'll be using.
3. Sometimes I just a toner but sometimes I skip it. After that I always moisturize. I use Celeteque moisturizer with spf on day and hydration on night. Moisturizing is really important coz it could protect the sensitive skin and enhance texture leaving it soft and smooth.Plus, its hydrating. ^^
4. I scrub my face once a week to remove the dead skins in my face.
5. I use a facial mask once a week whenever I happened to dropped by at Watsons. I always buy one facial mask that I could use for that night. Its a good reward for my skin after a busy week and it leaves my skin smooth and soft afterwards plus the coolness of the mask is relaxing too.
5. I undergo a diamond peel every 2 weeks to treat my enlarged pores and breakouts of acne, along with the scarring. Diamond peel could also helps corrects uneven skin tones by peeling away the discolored layers. i had 2 sessions so far and it needs about 6 or more sessions to fully see the result. So far, its doing great for the scars but I was waiting for the enlarged pores to minimize.
6. Of course, my new best friend. MAKE-UP. When my skin is dull, really bad and pimples are popping out of nowhere, my make-up is always ready to give a hand. Though it doesn't always fake a good skin, still my skin looks better with make-up than nothing at all.
So those are the 7 steps I have done that really works well with my skin. (I know it wouldn't take one step to treat my problem.) The quest to great skin hasn't finished yet but I'm not giving up until that happens. I'm still in the look out on what's the best option to treat this one. In this journey, one thing that I have always realized is always treat your face as your best friend and not your enemy. Sometimes, I tend to be irritated that of all the faces in the world, why should it be me? So I bombed my face with loads of products before, scrub here and there, pop it up sometimes and now these has been the result. I don't blame my genes either though I know it runs in our blood, my brothers and sister are experiencing the same dillema. But I don't have to live with it. I just have to do something about it. So I just want to share to you my experience. ^^ REMEMBER: There's no ugly woman. Only lazy woman.
my worst skin problem would be eczema..
when i was a child, i remember having it on my toes, I also had it on my left index finger..
it even came to a point when i can't wear socks and shoes because my infected foot will stick to the socks and i can't remove it because it hurts like hell! and i can't use my index finger that i almost thought it might took off.. :/
i use to treat it with steroid cream but i found out that it is not good to use steroid cream always..
now, i still have it in my left foot and i'm trying to prevent it by using moisturizing cream..
just moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! :)
My skin problem is PIMPLES!!! Every now and then I never fail to get one! But my skin regime helped me a lot! I'm a PONDS user ever since! It's affordable and it's available locally! Thank God my skin loves it! I use the Anti-Bacterial facial Wash and then after that I use the Day Cream from their Naturals Line. Actually, I love my skin now! It's more clear, moisturized and fair! And don't forget to drink WATER! It's very important!! :) That's my simple skin regimen, I guess it really depends on our skin on what products we will feed to it!
When I was in highschool, I had a major breakout which was concentrated in my forehead. Plus my skin was super oily. I religiously followed a daily regimen which consisted of Neutrogena Acne Facial Wash, Tretinoin, Ponds Pinkish White Glow cream, and Neutrogena sunblock. I don't know why, but by the time I reached senior year, my skin really cleared up and became less oily. My classmates noticed and complimented my skin. I guess you could say that I was "hiyang" to the products. :)
I'm a late bloomer. It was only a month ago when I started to seriously take a look at the condition of my skin. Life was always so busy that I really didn't make time to take care of my skin. My worst problem is a perennial, exacerbated case of acne and scarring, blemishes, dryness and dullness. So last month when I finally had an epiphany, when it finally struck me how important it is to have a skin regimen to religiously follow, I panicked. I didn't know how to go about looking for products that work. I stumbled on your blog on many occasions during those midnights when I scoured the internet for skincare pointers and product reviews. Now your blog is sitting prettily on my RSS reader. From practically nothing, I now use a cleanser, toner, and moisturizer, all Celeteque. That's just where I'm starting. There are so many products in the market that it's dizzying. After a while, I want to move on to specialized skincare products that will specifically target my skin's problems - those restorative types. Sadly, all of those are going to burn a huge hole in my pocket so I still have to save for them. This year will be my journey to beautiful skin. And I have your clear voice to guide me. Thank you for your hard work in sharing your thoughts, I greatly appreciate it.
My worst skin problem is acne. I started having facial acne when I was in Grade 5 (I was 11 years old then) and, oh boy, there are times when it gets really really embarrassing and I started feeling insecure. I mean for someone as young as me to have pimples at such an early age, it was depressing (things like these were a big deal back then). I started checking how to combat my acne problem but I didn't want to use products since I was still young. Instead I tried eating lots of fruits and vegetables, avoiding sleeping late, avoid eating chocolates and peanuts, and other usual tips to avoid pimples without using skin care products (though I found out some of these things are actually just myths, lol). Too bad it didn't help me at all and over the years, it just got worst. Since then I became insecure about myself and this feeling lasted until I was in my last years of high school.
When I reached the last years of high school (at age 15 or 16), I started thinking that maybe I need to go see a dermatologist and maybe use skin care products suggested by them. So I did, I tried almost every product like those from Ponds, Clean & Clear, Celeteque, Neutrogena, St. Yves, etc. and nothing really clicked with me. Worst thing was that I started having them on my back and chest area (sometimes even in my arms). My dermatologist did tell me I will outgrow them but one can't help but feel, well, ugly seeing those hideous pimples, not to mention scars, on my face, back and chest. And then, I just made myself become more positive and eventually I started accepting how my skin is, how I am as a person :).
I realized that even if I have lots of pimples, I shouldn't let that stop me from doing anything. Despite having the "not-so-flawless-skin", I didn't let it affect my attitude towards life. I wasn't as conscious of it as I was before. I persevered to feel more confident about myself, what I am and how I am as a person. Personality is definetely more important than appearances. I may not be the prettiest, but I more than make up for it by being friendly and positive towards life. I think that made a difference in how I lived my life since then. I actually started not to think too much about my problem.
Now, don't get me wrong. I may not give my acne problem much significance as I used to but it doesn't hurt to still take steps on solving it don't you think :) (I guess it comes with being a girl, lol). In my last year of college (which is actually last year), I switched to a new dermatologist since I have this card (I think it was called Maxi Care card) that lets me get free consultations. Now that doctor actually helped me cure my acne problems. She talked about acne, what causes it, how to combat it, etc. and most of it I already know but explaining things again really helped a lot in the process. She made me try out some products that will help, and help they did! I am now using Physiogel by Stiefel Laboratories (cleanser), Clindamycin solution (toner) and Adapalene (Differin) by Galderma (anti-acne cream). My continuous use of the mentioned products did wonders to my skin.
I am not saying I am now "pimple-free" but I am "pimple-less". I, now, don't have any pimples in my chest and back areas. I have less pimple breakouts and pimple scars were less visible (although when one looks closely, its still there). I guess it helps too that I don't use make-up much unless I go to events and such.
So as I mentioned, I was positive before and accepting of how I am before I became "pimple-less" and now that I have less acne, boy was I more confident of myself. I guess the feeling that I am prettier now compared to before boosted my confidence a bit more. My friends and relatives even say its shows on how I project myself to others.
I always felt good about myself (since I realized that being down and depressed won't help in any way). I personnaly believed that being able to accept my body as how it is helped in the healing process. Positivity would attract positive results (eventually anyway, lol), don't you think so? :)
*Lol, I guess mine was quite a story.. :)*
Hope to read more from you.. :)
After my pregnancy, my skin becomes prone to allergies and pimples, I have oily combination skin, and lines are starting to appear due to aging. I would normally have pimples if I don't wash, tone and moisturize my face overnight. This has been my routine for almost a year to prevent pimples but nothing seems to work. I started reading blogs and I was totally overwhelmed with the reviews for Clinique 3 steps System and I decided to give it a try. In just one day, my skin looks radiant even without make-up and it dries my pimples in a week. Now I'm looking forward to better skin in the future. With Clinique and Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Concentrate I don't think I would be worried about what my next pregnancy would do to my skin. I really hope to find my HG products in these combo. I really appreciates all reviews Liz. Thank you!
I always had good skin when I was younger until high school but when I reached college, all those pimples were popping out as if they are also excited to go to college. I get annoyed most of the time especially looking the at mirror while my friends doesn't have to worry about their faces. It's sad, it doesn't make me happy at all. I tried a lot of products on my face but it just makes everything worst. Now that I have finished college and working, I still worry about the acne scars I have in my face. I'm up to this battle until now.
What steps have you taken to fix it?
So far these are the steps that I have taken in order to improve my skin and so far, little by little, I have seen some effects.
1. I went to a dermatologist and ask for help. I didn't hesitate anymore because I was desperate to lessen my pimples, acne scars and enlarged pores. My dermatologist gave me some medicine for the face and an oral medicine to take. That was really expensive but I didn't mind anymore. It did made my skin good and my friends are noticing that.
2. I use Johnson's baby wash and Physiogel as a facial wash. No more no less. It's the most gentle thing that has touch my face that's why I like it. No irritations or whatsoever. I had Clinique facial wash before but my dermatologist said to stop it so that I could see the full effect of the products that I'll be using.
3. Sometimes I just a toner but sometimes I skip it. After that I always moisturize. I use Celeteque moisturizer with spf on day and hydration on night. Moisturizing is really important coz it could protect the sensitive skin and enhance texture leaving it soft and smooth.Plus, its hydrating. ^^
4. I scrub my face once a week to remove the dead skins in my face.
5. I use a facial mask once a week whenever I happened to dropped by at Watsons. I always buy one facial mask that I could use for that night. Its a good reward for my skin after a busy week and it leaves my skin smooth and soft afterwards plus the coolness of the mask is relaxing too.
6. I undergo a diamond peel every 2 weeks to treat my enlarged pores and breakouts of acne, along with the scarring. Diamond peel could also helps corrects uneven skin tones by peeling away the discolored layers. i had 2 sessions so far and it needs about 6 or more sessions to fully see the result. So far, its doing great for the scars but I was waiting for the enlarged pores to minimize.
6. Of course, my new best friend. MAKE-UP. When my skin is dull, really bad and pimples are popping out of nowhere, my make-up is always ready to give a hand. Though it doesn't always fake a good skin, still my skin looks better with make-up than nothing at all.
So those are the 7 steps I have done that really works well with my skin. (I know it wouldn't take one step to treat my problem.) The quest to great skin hasn't finished yet but I'm not giving up until that happens. I'm still in the look out on what's the best option to treat this one. In this journey, one thing that I have always realized is always treat your face as your best friend and not your enemy. Sometimes, I tend to be irritated that of all the faces in the world, why should it be me? So I bombed my face with loads of products before, scrub here and there which is not good. I don't blame my genes either though I know it runs in our blood, my brothers and sister are experiencing the same dillema. But I don't have to live with it. I just have to do something about it. So much for sharing my experience. ^^
oh no, Ms. Liz, sorry for the double post. Didn't see that coming. you could delete the 1st one ^^
When I was a teenager and all my friends and classmates were plagued by pimples...I had GREAT skin! As in I cannot recall a moment when I worried about a pimple or any blemishes. I didn't even have a skincare regime - I didn't bother. I just use the regular body soap.
Now fast forward to the present, acne has been my problem for a few years now. I am 28 years old and I cannot believe why acne has been bugging me at this point of my life. It's not just normal pimples you get before your period - it's ACNE! I have tried almost every mid-range products for acne (what my budget can afford) be it cleanser, toner, gels, soaps etc. to no avail.
This past few weeks has been really hard for me because my skin has been terrible. I even try to lessen make-up just so not to irritate the acne even further. I have pimples everywhere - in my forehead, cheeks, the sides of my face and my hairline. It just sucks and it frustrates me since I am in the field of Sales.
Last Monday was a low point for me. I came from a client meeting feeling really low and with little self-confidence. I told myself - "that's it! I've had enough of this!". I planned to go to a derma to have this solved once and for all. But having a busy schedule, for the meantime I tried searching the web for some product suggestions I can use. I have done this before but I just tried out my luck.
Anyways, I stumbled upon a site and got curious about how precise the instructions are. I've been doing some of the steps already but not in the way the site specifically instructs. I said to myself, "hey, I've got nothing to lose! Might as well try it!". So after work, I went directly to Watsons to buy some Benzoyl Peroxide (Panoxyl) since the other products I already have and followed the instructions when I got home. The next day, my pimples dried out. After two days, my skin is starting to clear out. Today is the fifth day I'm following it and I can say that my skin has greatly improved! My period is coming in a week so I am worried that I might break out again but so far I just have two new small pimples (the other one dried out overnight). I am hoping and wishing that this will be the solution to my problem. *crosses fingers*
Just want to share the site to you guys with acne problems, in case you haven't read this before:
http://www.acne.org/regimen.html
Hope this helps! :)
my worst skin enemy: acne and acne scars! :-/ cystic acne sprout like crazy when i'm stressed, anxious, or sleep-deprived. i've tried sleeping earlier (11pm, hee), managing my time, and getting massages :D but it's still a seesaw thing.. maybe i should see a derma next :)
Oily skin. Loyalty to specific products had long ago solved my acne problems. Diamond peels and natural serums had been a big help in improving my skin. Its really not the worst problem, but its something that I haven't really been able to solve. Now, the products I use has to be oil-free and specifically made for my skin type which limits my choices to only a few. Retouches has to be made every so and so, and I never ever go out without my oil blotter papers and films! They're like the bestfriends I can't live without. Now I'm trying a new makeup primer Nyx HD which they say can control the oil in my skin. So far its been doing its job. But its really not a solution, more like a concealer to a pimple. So along with joining this contest, I hope you can also share a few tips also with me. =)
Acne and the marks it leaves behind - these 2 are my biggest problems. And I must say that up to now I am still in the process of "managing" it. As much as possible, I keep my face, hands, pillow cases, bed and virtually anything that may come in contact with my face CLEAN. So I keep a bottle of sanitizer/alcohol whenever on the go to keep my hands clean. Secondly, I do the cleanse-tone-moisturize routine every morning and at night. Before I use the products from the derma but since I have been using them for roughly 4-5 years already (I am 23 and I started treating my acne at around 17) and I have been more open to experimenting, I am trying out different products now. I am not particular with the cleanser so I use soap bars (oatmeal!) or sometimes ponds. For the toner, I use Burts Bees Garden Tomato which I learned from this blog, I am halfway my second bottle now! It really has a positive effect on me - tighter pores and somehow I feel it helps lighten the scars as well. THEN FINALLY MY BEST BUDDY: COOL KLENZ moisturizer - it's the moisturizer for the acne prone people! It reduces redness, prevents pimples and acts as a lightening agent to blemishes too. This is around 2K PHP.. but you know, I don't mind spending a lot if A PRODUCT WORKS for me. So there. :)
when i used to go to the gym i developed severe acne on my jaw line on my forhead and on my nose area, and im not talking about the small ones, i got big, postulated acne that are super itchy and they hurt too.i tried exfoliating my face more often coz i thought the pimples were caused by sweating and even after i stopped going to the gym the acne didnt disappear >_< how ever what was worse were the scars left by the acne.. even if the acne was gone there was a sort of bump left behind together with a really dark mark <like harry potter hahaha> i started to buy skin care products.. i found out tea tree did not work for me because i bought a sort of concentrate to apply on a pimple.. didnt really do anything.. the i read reviews on the net and i discovered snail cream.. basically snail enzyme has healing properties and help increase skin regeneration so i bought a bottle and i've been using it ever since.. i dont get those postulated acne anymore and the marks left behind became lighter , less visible and no more bumps.. im not saying i dont get small zits anymore, i still do especially if its that time of the month, but they're considerably smaller and dont scar anymore.. hope this helps u :)